What the papers say: ‘A huge event of a football match’

“This match was both: Fireworks and Water Music – Battle and Beauty. A great event of a football match,” rejoices the Süddeutsche Zeitung over the 90 minutes at the BayArena. “In the end, Bayer 04 invested more energy and a greater desire to win and won the game 4-3.” Fitting in with the chorus of praise is their headline: “Fantastic fireworks.”

The summary in the Westdeutsche Zeitung is somewhat more sober. “Leon Bailey and Julian Baumgartlinger have put Bayer Leverkusen back on course for a Champions League position,” is the start to the newspaper’s report. “The two Bayer players secured a fourth Bundesliga win in succession with their goals late on in the spectacular 4-3 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday evening. Before that, Lucas Alario (27’/41’) with his third brace on the bounce scored the other goals for the hosts in a barn-storming encounter.”

The Werkself “on the verge of perfection”

The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger headline reads ‘Leverkusen festive evening’ and praises the approach of the Bosz team from the rooftops. “Bayer 04 started with maximum aggression and had all their players in the Gladbach half at times,” is the analysis of the reporter. “Even Borussia, who love to play on the break against teams high up the pitch, were initially impressed by that approach.” Up to the Werkself conceding a surprise goal they were “on the verge of perfection.”

The EXPRESS adopts a similar assessment and writes: “Although Borussia had two more days to recover after the runaway 6-0 win at Shakhtar Donetsk, the hosts looked fresher less than 72 hours after the 4-2 victory at Hapoel Be’er Sheva. The hard-running Bailey, in particular, was almost impossible to control.”

Alario breaks two club records at once

‘Full speed ahead!’, is the headline in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung – and the report continues: “Bayer are on a run and have been able to win all four Bundesliga games in between this autumn’s two international breaks. And they currently have a striker who is in great form. Lucas Alario levelled twice, initially with a great shot into the top corner (27’), before making it 2-2 with a header (…) just before half-time (41’).“

The kicker searched the archives for the outstanding run by the Leverkusen central striker and highlights achieving “two club records at one”: “His brace was the third scored by the goal poacher in the last three league games. No other Bayer player before Alario has achieved that in the Bundesliga.” And that’s not all: “His seventh goal of the season after seven games is also a club record: The only other Bayer players to achieve that were Ulf Kirsten, Patrick Helmes and Herbert Waas.”

Bailey “impressive”, Wirtz “outstanding”

The WAZ reports the second half as follows: “Leverkusen also made the better start to the second half with the impressive Bailey having the first chance.”

The goals did follow as we know. “The outstanding, just 17-years-old Wirtz, put Diaby through and he picked out Leon Bailey. The Jamaican nutmegged Sommer to make it 3-2 (68’),” reports the Kölnische Rundschau in describing the Werkself goal. “The Bosz team were now taking less risks and making no errors. Baumgartlinger settled the result with the goal at 4-2 when he rounded off a great move involving Wirtz, Karim Bellarabi and Amiri (82’).”

Bayer 04 “more compact and determined”

In the view of the Rheinische Post, Bayer 04 were “deservedly ahead because the team were more compact and determined.” And “an incredible wonder goal from substitute Valentino Lazaro” was unable to affect a deserved home win.

The many impressions of an entertaining football match are summed up succinctly by the BILD: “Twelve goals and three wins in a week. Bayer Leverkusen continue their great run with a spectacular match. 4-3 against Gladbach! Fourth place in the league retained.”